Lamp socket mounting



. March 19, 1957 w. T, MEARS 2,786,129

LAMP SOCKET MOUNTING Filed Sept. 8, 1953 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United StatesPatent Ofice 2,786,129 Patented Mar. 19, 1957 LAMP SOCKET MOUNTINGWilliam T. Mears, Anderson, Ind., assignor to General MotorsCorporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationSeptember 8, 1953, Serial No. 378,886

1 Claim. (Cl. 240-8.3)

The present invention relates to lamps and more particularly to mountingdevices for snap-in bulb sockets in automotive lamps.

Snap-in bulb sockets of the type disclosed in co-pending applicationSerial No. 202,522, filed December 23, 1950, issued May 25, 1954, asPatent No. 2,679,576, have come into general usage in automotive lampsfor the reason that the assembly permits ready access to the bulb andsocket without the necessity of removing the lamp lens and door. Inaccordance with the teachings of the aforementioned application, thebulb socket is removably retained and supported within the lamp casingby means of a coil spring positioned around the periphery of the socketreceiving aperture in the lamp casing.

It has been found, however, that the spring has a tendency to rust ontothe socket, thus decreasing the benefits otherwise to be obtained by theuse of a snap-in bulb socket. Further, it has been found on assemblythat the overlapped spring ends show a tendency to pull apart and thatthe spring tends to slip 01? the supporting lugs.

In accordance with the teachings of my present invention set forthhereinafter, it is possible to overcome the above mentioned difiicultiesand at the same time obtain a tighter fit between the bulb socket andthe lamp casing in a simple and inexpensive manner.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a lamp adapted formounting on a body panel of an automotive vehicle and so constructed andarranged as to provide for the ready removal and replacement of the lampbulb and lamp socket.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved signalinglamp construction which is simple, easy to manufacture and inexpensive.

These and other objects are attained in accordance with the presentinvention by providing a lamp assembly so constructed and arranged thatthe bulb socket assembly is supported and retained within the lampcasing by means of an elastic non-metallic retainer element.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view partly in cross-section and partly broken away of asignaling lamp assembly embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the retainer element.

Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated a lamp assemblyespecially adapted for signaling lamps and comprising a lamp housing 2,a lamp socket assembly 4 removably secured in the housing and a lens 6secured to the housing 2 by a lens frame 8. The lamp housing isgenerally cup-shaped and may be formed from sheet metal by a stampingoperation or from suitable thermoplastic material by molding. Thehousing is illustrated in Figure 2 as having a substantially squarecross-sectional configuration, but it will be obvious that any suitablecross-sectional configuration may be used. A circular aperture 10 isprovided in the bottom of the housing 2 and equally spaced lugs 12 areformed integrally with the bottom of the housing at the aperture edgeand extend inwardly of the housing. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, thelugs 12 are bent at substantially right angles to the bottom of the cupand extend axially inwardly with the ends of the lugs being curvedtoward the sides of the housing. The lugs 12 support a retainer element14 made of an elastic non-metallic organic material such as nylon,Lucite, cellulose acetate, etc., which material is substantially inertto weathering and possesses the requisite toughness. As shown in Figures2 and 4, retainer 14 is split transversely at one point andhexagonal inshape, though it is obvious that the shape of the element may be anydesired shape so long as it is adapted to secure the bulb socket 4 inthe housing in a manner which will be described hereinafter. Theretainer element 14 may be formed in any desired manner, as for exampleby bending the retainer element from a rod of the desired material, bystamping the retainer element from sheets, and by extruding the materialin the desired tubular form followed by cutting transverse sections ofsuitable thickness therefrom. The housing 2 is also formed with aradially extending flange 16 having apertures 18 therein adapted toreceive threaded members 19 for securing the housing 2 in the lens frame8. As illustrated in Figure 3 the bulb socket assembly comprises a bulbsocket 20 having a metal collar 22 secured thereto.

The bulb socket 20 is a conventional bayonet type socket adapted toremovably secure a lamp bulb 24 and electrical leads 25 for conductingelectric current to the lamp bulb. The socket 20 is provided with anannular flange 26 which cooperates with means on the metal collar 22 tosecure the bulb socket and collar as an assembly. The metal collar 22 isillustrated in Figure 3 as being formed of two substantially tubularmetal members 28 and 30 secured together by providing on each of therespective members radially extending flanges 32 and 34 and spinning orbending flange 34 over the peripheral edge of flange 32, as shown.Tubular member 28 is provided with an inturned flange 36 with aperipheral edge 38 forming an aperture 40. Lugs 42 are cut from flange36 at equilaterally spaced points about the flange and with collar 22positioned in the bulb socket so that the flange 36 abuts one side offlange 26 the lugs 42 are bent over the edge of flange 26 of the bulbsocket 20 to engage its opposite side thus securing the collar 22 on thebulb socket 20. The tubular member 30 is formed with equally spacedinwardly pressed side wall portions 43 to provide indented recesses 44about the periphery of the member for receiving the retainer 14 when thebulb socket assembly 4 is inserted in the housing 2. In this connection,it will be clear that the inwardly pressed walls 43 form correspondinglyspaced lips 46 about the periphery of the tubular member which engagethe retainer element 14 and hold the bulb socket in position when thebulb socket is inserted in the housing. To provide for ease of insertionof the socket assembly in the housing against the pressure of theretainer 14, the tubular member 30 is provided with an inwardly taperedend 48.

In assembling the signaling lamp, the lens 6 is secured in place overthe housing 2 by the frame 8 in the manner shown. A gasket 54 isinterposed between the lens and the housing flange 16 to provide asealed joint between the lens and housing. The split retainer 14 may bepositioned on the lugs 12 before the lens is secured in place. With theelement 14 in position on the lugs 12, spaced portions 15 overlap theopening 10 in the housing as i1- lustratedin; Figure 2. The socketassembly 4 with the may then be inserted in the opening 10. As thetubular member 30 presses into the opening 10, the overlapping retainerportions 15 are outwardly urged by the lips 46 the retainer -14;beingsprung open. As the socket assembly 4 is pressed furtherinto itsoperative positio 1 1,' retainer 14assumes its original size, theoverlapping retainer portions pulling back into'the indented recessesand eifecting the support and retention of the bulb socket assembly inthe housing; To remove the bulb socket assembly4 ior replacementofthebulb, it will be obviousthat a reversal oft-he'above describedoperation will occur.

It is. to -be understood'that I apply the term nylon to thezpolyamide'resins made by the polymeriiatioii of hexamethylenedianiinesalt ofadipic a'cid f likewise; by the term Lucite I have reference to theacrylic or acrylate resins.

' Whilentheembodiment of'the present invention as here- 20 in disclosed;constitutes a preferred form, it is to be inder 4 -What is claimed isfollows-z A lamp comprising a cup-shaped housing having .a lensextending across and covering the open side thereof, an

opening in a wall of said housing, a" lainp socket'liaving an enlargedportion in free-sliding engagement with the edge of said opening andprovided with a plurality of spaced indented side walls, the combinationtherewith of a solid elastic retainer ring member secured at spacedpoints around said opening in said housing to provide portions of saidmember in yielding engagement with said indented side walls, saidelastic member bein g sp l it at one Point and formed of nylonand'having snap-ring action in the assembly and disassembly of the"lampsqcle t.'

Re e nce Qit d in t e .19 .9; his Rate-at- TEP ewes ATENT 1,675,639Champion Q July 3, 1928 2,139,374 Michel et al. Dec. 6, 1938 2,248,399Watts July 8, 1941 2,332,362 Bartow Oct."19, 1943 2,404,176, HuelsterJuly 16, 1946 2,439,000 Hasenzahl Apr, 6 1948 2,679,516 Mears et a1. .LMay 1954

